Avalanche Forecast
Regions: Bonnington, Crawford, Grohman, Kokanee, Kootenay Boundary, Kootenay Pass, Moyie, Norns, Retallack, Rossland, South Okanagan, St. Mary, Valhalla, Ymir.
Variable winds are redistributing available snow into thin wind slabs. Watch for signs of instability; shooting cracks, hollow sounds and recent avalanches as you move through the terrain
Confidence
Moderate
Avalanche Summary
On Saturday, two natural storm slab avalanches were reported up to size 2 on alpine terrain features.
On Friday, a skier triggered a size 2, storm slab avalanche on a southeast aspect at 2200 m northwest of Slocan Lake. Near Whitewater Peak a naturally triggered size one avalanche was observed at 2250m on a north aspect.
If you go out in the backcountry, please consider sharing your observations on the Mountain Information Network (MIN).
Snowpack Summary
In the past week, as much as 70 cm of snow has accumulated in some areas. This new snow has buried a variety of old surfaces, including surface hoar on sheltered, north-facing terrain and a sun crust on south-facing slopes.
The middle of the snowpack contains a series of old melt freeze-crusts.
A thick crust deep in the snowpack largely protects any weak layers further down in the snowpack from being triggered.
Weather Summary
Sunday Night
Clear skies with no precipitation, primarily northerly alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -18 °C.
Monday
Mainly sunny with no precipitation, northwest alpine wind 10 to 20 km/h, treeline temperature -15 °C.
Tuesday
Partly cloudy with isolated flurries, trace amounts of snow, southwest alpine wind 10 to 25 km/h, treeline temperature -14 °C.
Wednesday
Cloudy with scattered flurries, 8 to 12 cm of snow, southwest alpine wind 10 to 30 km/h, treeline temperature -13 °C.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
Terrain and Travel Advice
- Avoid freshly wind loaded features, especially near ridge crests, roll-overs and in steep terrain.
- Recent wind has varied in direction so watch for wind slabs on all aspects.
- Potential for wide propagation exists, fresh slabs may rest on surface hoar, facets and/or crust.
Avalanche Problems
Wind Slabs
Variable winds have resulted in atypical loading patterns. Avoid lee and cross-loaded slopes where wind slabs may be reactive to human triggering.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: Alpine, Treeline.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1 - 2.5
Persistent Slabs
Up to 70 cm of snow sits over variable surfaces and in some areas a weak layer of surface hoar. The location of this layer is tricky to pinpoint at this time. This layer may become reactive to human triggering as temperatures begin to warm.
Aspects: All aspects.
Elevations: All elevations.
Likelihood: Possible
Expected Size: 1.5 - 2.5